Mission and Justice
We have begun receiving “Thank you” notes for our year-end contributions: Arlington Food Pantry, from Andi Doane, Executive Director; International Institute of New England, from Jeffrey Thielman, President & CEO; Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, A Bed for Every Child, from Robyn Frost, Executive Director, and Sister Linda Bessom SND, Community Organizer; New England Center and Home for Veterans, from Charlene Pontbriand, Sr. Vice President; One Can Help, from Anne Bader-Martin, President; Partners In Health, from Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer. You can see them on the Mission and Justice bulletin board in Parish Hall and on our webpage www.pacc-ucc.org/home/mission-and-justice.
In January we sent the Mass. Conference UCC $883.00 from our UCC Christmas Fund collections during Advent.
On Saturday, the 14th, Kate Lindheim, Jill Lewis, Mike Rich and Betty Rich attended City Mission Society’s MLK Day of Learning at United Parish, Brookline.
On Monday, the 16th, Arlington held its 29th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance at Town Hall in the evening. The program honored Calvary United Methodist Church’s Pastor, The Rev. Christine Elliott, with their Outstanding Achievement award for her work with Housing Corporation of Arlington, the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Arlington Food Pantry, Arlington EATS! and her participation in discussions with other Arlington clergy about Black Lives Matter. Bonnie Hayner, Liz & Mark Ramras, Betty & Mike Rich and Sally & Mary Rogers were in attendance from PACC.
Ongoing Outreach
Arlington Food Pantry (AFP)
We will be collecting non-perishable food items and household goods for the AFP on Sunday, February 5th. Visit https://arlingtonfoodpantry.org for the list of needed and “high need” items.
THANKS to Kate Lindheim for bringing our donated items to the AFP each month. If you are interested in helping, periodically or regularly, talk to Kate, Mike Rich or Jill Lewis
Community Supper
PACC provides dinner for the Community Supper hosted by Somerville Homeless Coalition every month on the fourth Monday at First Church UCC in Somerville (89 College Ave, near Davis Square). See Kate Lindheim’s article elsewhere in the Spire for more details about this month’s supper.
One Great Hour of Sharing
“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink …” Matthew 25:35
OGHS is the Lenten Offering of the United Church of Christ that supports disaster, refugee, and development actions. The suggested offering date for the One Great Hour of Sharing offering in 2017 is Sunday, March 26. Talk to Jill Lewis or Mike Rich if you are willing to be our campaign coordinator this year or to present a Mission Moment on a Sunday leading up to the collection on March 26th. For more information go to www.onegreathourofsharing.org.
Public Service Announcement
Arlington’s Health and Human Services Department lists local, state and federal assistance programs on its webpage, here – https://arlingtonfoodpantry.org. You can find out about how to get: food from the Arlington Food Pantry, the Helping Hand
Food Pantry in Cambridge, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, Food Stamps) and the Women, Infants and Children’s program (WIC); Housing; Home heating assistance and more.
Upcoming Events
On Sunday, March 5th, The ADL is celebrating its 10th Annual “A Nation of Immigrants” Community Seder from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at UMass Boston. Talk to Mike or Betty Rich for more details.
On Saturday, March 18th, the Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island Conferences will be holding Super Saturday “full-day of skill building offering numerous workshops, a keynote address, worship, a marketplace of vendors and ideas and an opportunity for everyone to network with one another.” This time the Keynote speaker and worship leader will be Brian McLaren, author, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for ‘a new kind of Christianity’ – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good.” The event will be held at Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 10th, is the culmination of Boston’s Pride Festival, with a Community Interfaith Worship at Old South UCC in the morning, followed by a Parade at noon and information booths, food and entertainment at Boston’s City Hall Plaza into the evening.
Friday to Saturday, June 16 to 17, Historic Tri-Conference Annual Meeting – “The 2017 Annual Meeting will be an historic event as the Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts Conferences gather together for the first time to explore how we can make a greater impact together and what that means. There will be shared worship and program, as well as separate Conference business meetings. The Keynote Speaker is UCC Minister & President The Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer. He is the author of BEYOND RESISTANCE: THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH MEETS THE POSTMODERN WORLD.” It will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT.
Thanks for your generosity, interest and participation,
Jill Lewis and Mike Rich, 2017 Mission and Justice Deacons, on behalf of PACC’s Mission and Justice Ministry